I hope you enjoyed your holidays and you are looking forward to Term 2. Each term we balance the timetable to meet the needs of boys within a complex and always changing Nudgee College context.
The following staffing changes have occurred across the holidays and these may affect one or more of the classes your son attends. Please understand we only make changes where necessary to avoid disruption where possible.
We welcome back Ms Emel Corley from leave in Term 1 and thank Ms Belinda Drury for taking Ms Corley's classes.
We congratulate Mr Gerard McKeown on his appointment to the Coordinator of English for Years 7 to 9. Two of Mr McKeown's classes will be covered now by Ms Donna Roberts (Year 9 English) and Mr Graham Moore (Year 8 RE/Humanities).
Ms Jaimee Trembearth will run our Cross Country Program in Term 2 and Mr Graham Moore will cover Ms Trembearth’s Year 8 RE/Humanities for the term.
Finally, after Term 1 subject changes, we have created a number of new classes to cater for the increased numbers. These include Year 10 Legal Studies (Mr CJ Massingale's class is now split with Ms Robyn Mann taking the new class), Year 11 Maths Essentials (Mr James Burton) and Year 11 General Maths (Mr James Burton).
Mr Jason Sepetauc
Dean of Learning and Teaching
NAPLAN
The National Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is completed by all Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 each year. It tests essential skills such as reading, writing and numeracy. Nudgee College uses this data to monitor the academic progress of our students and set goals for improvement.
The 2019 NAPLAN Online testing window will occur from 14 to 24 May (Weeks 4 and 5). During this time, students in Years 5, 7 and 9 will complete the following four tests:
- Writing
- Reading
- Language Conventions
- Numeracy
In 2018, Nudgee College was among the first nationwide to transition to online testing and this has been shown to improve the engagement of our students. The NAPLAN Online Assessment Platform uses a locked down browser (LDB) that students will download at school and access on their device. The platform uses ‘tailored testing’, which gives students questions better suited to their ability, resulting in better assessment and more precise results. It also enables faster turnaround of information.
Parents and carers are recommended to view this online brochure for more information. You are also encouraged to calendar the testing schedule shown below.
Year 5
Test: Writing
Date: Tuesday 14 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Test: Reading
Date: Wednesday 15 May
Periods: 3 and 4
Test: Language Conventions
Date: Friday 17 May
Periods: 3 and 4
Test: Numeracy
Date: Tuesday 21 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Year 7
Test: Writing
Date: Wednesday 15 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Test: Reading
Date: Thursday 16 May
Periods: 3 and 4
Test: Language Conventions
Date: Friday 17 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Test: Numeracy
Date: Monday 20 May
Periods: 3 and 4
Year 9
Test: Writing
Date: Tuesday 14 May
Periods: 3 and 4
Test: Reading
Dates: Thursday 16 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Test: Language Conventions
Date: Monday 20 May
Periods: 1 and 2
Test: Numeracy
Date: Tuesday 21 May
Periods: 3 and 4
All Year Levels
Test: Catch-Up Tests
Dates: Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 May
Periods: 1 to 4
Parents have the right to withdraw their children from NAPLAN. If you wish to withdraw your son, please contact me via nwe@nudgee.qld.edu.au before 14 May 2019.
Ms Natalie Webber
Director of Learning and Teaching
Trade Fever
Just as Term 1 was winding down, our Senior Construction and Engineering Teachers were firing up. On the final day, Mr Neil Poppleton, Mr Warren Roberts, Mr Ben Ralston and Mr Mark Rieken visited various construction sites to hone their already impressive technical skills. Teaching the Certificate l in Construction and Certificate ll in Engineering requires industry currency and advanced trade skills to ensure our students receive the very best and most relevant education in this field. These teachers engage in industry projects at least twice every year. Due to the dedication of our teachers and the state of the art facilities available in our Trade Training Centre, our boys receive the best possible experience.
On the day, our teachers worked on a range of projects including house raising, renovation and commercial projects. The tasks included planning building sequences, costing of materials and labour, motivating young apprentices, landscaping, building balustrades and treads, installing sarking and wall sheeting, among other tasks.
Thank you to the individuals and businesses who supported our teachers for the day, including Old Boy Mr Matt Henderson (MWH Constructions), Mr Andrew Breterton (Builder), Mr Trent Palmer and Aldi at Mt Gravatt.
Thank you to our Construction and Engineering teachers for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the boys in their care.
Ms Dee Tyrrell
Director of Pathways
Health and Physical Education (HPE) Faculty Update
It has been a busy start to the year in the HPE Faculty, with the introduction of the new QCE program in Year 11 providing new challenges in the areas of both Physical Education and Sport and Recreation studies. Our staff and students have been working hard to implement new processes around assessment and feedback, and we are excited about where the key learning area is heading.
Our Year 11 Sport and Recreation (Applied Syllabus) class attended the recent Edmund Rice Flexible Learning Centre ‘Respect Day’ conducted by Deception Bay FLC (Principal Ms Michelle Kinnane is a former McKenna House Dean). This was in conjunction with their initial unit on ‘Coaching and Officiating’ and allowed the students to undertake real life experience in running a multi-sport carnival. The class found it a very rewarding, enjoyable yet challenging experience, working with students of similar age but supporting those who are at the margins of our society. I would like to thank Mr Karim Sedour (Sport, Recreation and Fitness Coordinator) on his leadership and hard work in ensuring this valuable experience was well-organised for the boys.
Recently, our Year 11 Physical Education (General Syllabus) classes have begun their study of Motor Learning, which led to Biomechanics and Functional Anatomy. This subject is centred on the study of sport and exercise sciences. Local business Drummond Golf Big Swing, under the instruction of PGA teaching professional Mr Wayne Rostron, have allowed our students to undertake detailed golf swing analysis in their hi-tech swing bays. This has been extremely valuable in allowing the boys to conduct detailed biomechanical analysis of their own swings in preparation for their assessment.
It is these rich experiences that help embed key learnings and allow our boys to see clear connections between their education and its application in real world contexts, making for more well-rounded individuals.
Mr Matt Waters
Head of HPE Faculty
Macbeth Performance
Australia lost one of its renowned poets this week. Les Murray, often referred to as our poet laureate, wrote in a distinct, Australian style that endeared many of his compatriots to him. His works will continue to be appreciated within and far beyond our nation’s boundaries because Les Murray, like other literary greats before him, offers a view of humanity and the world that resonates with people across the globe.
Writers like Murray are included in the prescribed reading lists for the new suite of Senior English courses because of the richness that they bring to students’ study of literature. For texts to be included in the current prescribed lists, they must have merit in genre and style, provide opportunities for sustained intensive study and challenge, and provide opportunities for student engagement (QCAA Prescribed Text Lists, 2019 to 2021).
Several of Shakespeare’s plays are on the lists. Perhaps not surprisingly, Shakespeare is the only writer whose works appear more than once in the prescribed lists for both English and Literature, and our 2020 Senior students completing these courses will respond to a Unit 4 external exam question on one of his plays. Shakespeare has always featured in the study of canonical literature for students at Nudgee College, not only to allow them access to his mastery of language but also to highlight that literature can help them to make sense of the world in which they live.
With performances by Shake & Stir Theatre Co. in Tierney Auditorium, our students have the opportunity to experience the immediacy of live theatre. Prior to going on Kairos, Year 12 English students enjoyed their 50 minute rendition of Macbeth and in the next fortnight, Year 10 students will attend a performance of Romeo and Juliet. Both year levels will be well equipped to discuss the contemporary relevance of the Bard in their spoken presentations this term.
Ms Monica See
Head of English and Languages Faculty
